Republican Stimulus Showdown

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Get with it Republicans! What good do tax cuts do when you don't have a job anymore? I agree there are too many items in the stimulus bill that won't help the economy immediately but your tax cuts won't either. Help the bill get passed and get the economy back on it's feet. Right now you're just being stupid and obstructionist....

William Hanchett of MI 12:37PM February 07, 2009

Obama's fear tactics and doomsday scenarios are beginning to make Busch/Paulson look like cute little puppies. Look at the "change" we got; more fear-mongoring, more contempt for what Americans actually want(financial responsability and accountability) and the iceing on the cake a massive spending package even bigger than bailout #1.
having to watch these politicians saying they are "taking action" and providing "leadership" while ignoring common sense and burying future generations under mountains of debt is truly appalling. This pretensious snobs who have their lives and their kids lives paid for continue to plow the rest of America further into oblivion and are proud simply because they can say "look we took action, we're leading", actually you stupidly and egregiously done exactly what has lead us to the situation we are currently in except you have managed to take it to new heights of incompetence. "Um, you know this problem caused by easy credit, too much borrowing and spending, too little accountability, lets fix it by demanding stupendous amounts of money from the people who have already lost the most", simply amazing.
I feel sorry for the coming generations that didn't have a say in this, not that politicians are listening to anyone anyway.

pj of MO 9:46PM February 06, 2009

Mercury, obesity, diabetes…it is no wonder consumers throw up their hands in frustration and confusion about the food they eat and buy their families. What do you believe? Misinformation about high fructose corn syrup abounds on the Internet which fuels this frustration level.
Consider this research about mercury in food. Even if the research were complete and correct, the mercury levels cited by these reports are far below levels for concern set by the U.S. government. For example, the EPA sets limits for mercury in water at two parts per billion. In this study, the authors measured levels at parts per trillion in foods with high fructose corn syrup. Most people aren’t aware that trace amounts of mercury are found in the air, water, soil, and many other foods.
The high fructose corn syrup industry uses only mercury-free technology in the production of high fructose corn syrup and has for several years making these reports based on outdated information. More confusion kicked up a notch.
From the Internet fury, it is assumed that high fructose corn syrup acts differently in the body. Did you know that there is no difference in how the body metabolizes table sugar and high fructose corn syrup? High fructose corn syrup is actually made of approximately equal ratios of glucose and fructose just like sugar and honey. The body has no idea what sweetener source the glucose and fructose come from. From a processing standpoint, sugar is processed from sugar cane and sugar beets as high fructose corn syrup is purified from corn making one as natural as the other.
When it comes to the issue of weight gain, it is all about the calories. Around the world, sugar accounts for over 90% of caloric sweeteners consumed not HFCS. In the US, portion sizes are obscene, we consume more calories from all food sources including foods made with these various sweeteners and we exercise way less. The remote control and computer mouse see all the action.
Susan Mitchell, PhD, RD

S Mitchell of FL 9:59AM February 04, 2009

High fructose corn syrup, sugar, and several fruit juices are all nutritionally the same.
High fructose syrup has the same number of calories as sugar and is handled similarly by the body.
The American Medical Association in June 2008 helped put to rest misunderstandings about this sweetener and obesity, stating that “high fructose corn syrup does not appear to contribute to obesity more than other caloric sweeteners.”
Even former critics of high fructose corn syrup dispel long-held myths and distance themselves from earlier speculation about the sweetener’s link to obesity as the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition releases its 2008 Vol. 88 supplement's comprehensive scientific review.
Many confuse pure “fructose” with “high fructose corn syrup,” a sweetener that never contains fructose alone, but always in combination with a roughly equivalent amount of a second sugar (glucose). Recent studies that have examined pure fructose - often at abnormally high levels - have been inappropriately applied to high fructose corn syrup and have caused significant consumer confusion.
Consumers can see the latest research and learn more about high fructose corn syrup at www.HFCSfacts.com and www.SweetSurprise.com.
Audrae Erickson
President
Corn Refiners Association

Audrae Erickson of DC 3:56PM February 02, 2009

I was reading an article yesterday. The author was complaining about how there's too much "unnecessary" and "frivolous" spending in the stimulus bill. Things like funding for arts, education and health care. Then he went on to say, why not fix our roads and bridges, giving people much-needed jobs at the same time? What a narrow-minded viewpoint. Republicans think the only way to put people back to work is to put a pick and shovel in their hands, and give them mindless, back-breaking, "good old-fashioned" construction jobs.
Did you know that over 50 million people are employed in the arts in this country? Funneling money to these things will create jobs. The American people are largely over qualified, under paid professionals. They do not want to, and will not work on bone-head constructions sites. Fund the arts, fund education, fund health care, fund scientific research, and you not only make our country a better place, but you create the kinds of jobs that people are trained for and willing to do.

socrates of OR 3:30PM January 31, 2009

You forgot 3D - only pays their taxes when they're nominated for a Cabinet position.

Bill of NJ 11:32AM January 31, 2009

I don't think many Americans were very fond of the stimulus as presented by are stuck behind the eight ball wanting something as better than nothing at all. Why not simply break it down to functional areas such as mortgages providing funds to refi bad mortgages with new fixed rate paper and employment by extending unemployment benefits and starting a CETA jobs program administrated by the state employment offices providing employment and training opportunities, provide lending capital to banks under low interest 6 month loans, etc... Instead of wasting time arguing about politics, Congress, White House and every department should be working on individual "stimuli" plans to present to America since that is the fastest method to stop spinning and start winning!!!

Ray Fisher of NM 10:52AM January 31, 2009

The New American Revolution….
Do you mistakenly think your elected representatives are “Public Servants?” … Not so! …When is the last time in all of history that a servant has increased his/her own pay without the boss’s approval?
Hmmmm … can’t think of any, can you?
So, it seems we have been enslaved, doesn’t it? We serve that elected representative.
Once again Americans are taxed without representation.
Our elected representatives know that we must pay them and that we cannot affect their income. They are free to pursue discretionary income from outside sources that are their true masters.
The big lie that brought this about is “We must pay lots of dough to get good people”.
How has that worked for us?
I hope you agree that this is a lie; otherwise the American soldier is not a good person. They will, however, give their life for their country.
No, money and ‘good people’ are not synonymous. Nothing wrong with money but it is the lowest and most common motivation for action. Criminals, the homeless, the wealthy and the rest of us are motivated by money.
A higher motivation is a sense of duty. Soldiers will pay the ultimate price for a sense of duty. Parents would die to protect their children. A sense of duty is what attracts and motivates “good people”.
We need “good people” motivated by a sense of duty for representatives.
Now is time for all good people to come to the aid of their country.
The solution:
1. put any pay raises on the ballot. If they want a raise ‘ask the boss.’
2. All representatives must pay for their own health insurance, save for retirement like the rest of us, and pay Social Security and their own personal postage. They must be reminded they are NOT socialists or royalty and do not deserve the super rich welfare they now receive.
3. Confiscate all material wealth of any elected official who A. uses the office for personal enrichment at the expense of constituents. B. accepts bribes in any form i.e. ‘money for favors’. C. accepts ‘golf junkets’, Spa’s, free education for representatives children, free home construction, promises of jobs after retirement or the multitude of other ways to hide bribes..
(apply confiscation to any friend or family that attempts to help hide offenders wealth’)
4. Send this letter to your mailing list, elected representatives and every news outlet you can..
This is an American not a partisan revolution for the restoration of integrity and confidence in government.
"That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness."… The Declaration of Independence